Wills & Probate

US-UK Estate Tax Treaty Explained for Migrants

The 1978 US-UK estate and gift tax treaty allocates primary taxing rights between the two countries for cross-border estates and provides credit mechanisms to avoid double taxation. For US citizens in the UK and UK residents with US assets, the treaty interacts with the post-April 2025 UK residence

17 May 2026 View & bid →

UK Will With Foreign Assets: What Migrants Need

Migrants to the UK who own assets in two or more jurisdictions usually need a UK will alongside (or in coordination with) a will in the country of origin. UK formalities, executor eligibility, and revocation interactions are very different from foreign succession systems. A poorly drafted single wi

17 May 2026 View & bid →

UK Probate Fees Explained in 2026

The UK Probate Service charges a flat application fee of 273 pounds for estates above the 15,000 pound small estates threshold in 2026. Solicitor fees for estate administration vary widely with the estate's complexity, typically ranging from 1 to 5 percent of the estate value or a fixed quote in th

17 May 2026 View & bid →

UK Probate Explained in 2026

UK probate is the legal process of administering a deceased person's estate. The executor (with a will) or administrator (without) applies to the Probate Service for the formal authority to gather assets, pay debts and IHT, and distribute the estate. Most UK estates require probate where the deceas

17 May 2026 View & bid →

UK Prepaid Funeral Plans Explained

A UK prepaid funeral plan locks in the cost of a defined funeral package today, with the provider holding the funds (in trust or insurance) until the funeral is needed. The market has been regulated by the FCA since 29 July 2022, materially strengthening consumer protection. Plans typically cover t

17 May 2026 View & bid →

UK Inheritance Tax Explained in 2026

UK inheritance tax is charged at 40 percent on the value of an estate above the available nil-rate bands. The standard nil-rate band is currently 325,000 pounds per individual; an additional residence nil-rate band of 175,000 pounds can apply where a qualifying main residence passes to direct desce

17 May 2026 View & bid →

UK IHT Residence Nil-Rate Band Explained

The residence nil-rate band is an additional UK IHT allowance of up to 175,000 pounds per individual where a qualifying main residence is left to direct descendants. It is in addition to the 325,000 pound standard nil-rate band. The band tapers away for estates over 2 million pounds and is subject

17 May 2026 View & bid →

UK IHT Planning Strategies in 2026

UK IHT planning combines lifetime exemptions, the seven-year rule on gifts, the nil-rate bands, business and charity reliefs, and life insurance to manage the eventual IHT charge. The post-April 2025 residence-based regime, the freeze of nil-rate bands, and the April 2026 reforms to Business Relief

17 May 2026 View & bid →

UK IHT Nil-Rate Band Explained

The UK inheritance tax nil-rate band is the amount of an estate that passes free of IHT. The standard nil-rate band is currently 325,000 pounds per individual and has been frozen at this level for many years. Unused band is transferable between spouses and civil partners, doubling the effective thr

17 May 2026 View & bid →

UK IHT Business Relief Explained

Business Relief reduces the IHT value of qualifying business assets by 50 percent or 100 percent depending on the asset type. The relief has been a foundational feature of UK IHT for owners of trading businesses, partnership interests, and certain quoted securities. The Autumn Budget 2024 announced

17 May 2026 View & bid →

UK IHT 7-Year Rule on Gifts Explained

The seven-year rule is the UK IHT mechanism that determines whether a lifetime gift is exempt or chargeable. Gifts more than seven years before death are typically outside the estate. Gifts within seven years are added back, with taper relief reducing the IHT rate on gifts made between three and se

17 May 2026 View & bid →

UK Funeral Costs Explained in 2026

Average UK funeral costs in 2026 sit in the range of 4,000 to 5,500 pounds for a basic attended funeral, with substantial regional variation and a wide spread between direct cremation and full traditional service. State support is available in limited circumstances. Most families pay from the estat

17 May 2026 View & bid →

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